In The Driver's Seat (Volume XII, Issue 2 - May 2004)

by: James Jewell

Well, well, well.... Where do I start? As most of you know, this is my inaugural issue,
and I have some pretty big boots to fill, so let me start out with some apologies for
my shortcomings. First, I suspect that there are many e-mails that I haven't answered.
I'm a bit disorganized, so if I haven't responded to you, keep blasting away until I do.
I won't be offended by multiple e-mails. In fact that's often what I need to keep focused.
Second, many of you have sent me subscription checks that I haven't cashed yet. It's
taken me awhile to decide on the best way to handle the finances, but I'll start
depositing checks ASAP.

This issue has some great material. Our keystone article is a reprint of a piece
originally published by one of our own in MG WORLD. We've gotten permission from
CH publishing to use it, and we thank them. It's unlikely that too many of us Yanks
have already read it, but if you have and feel that you shouldn't have to pay twice,
I've got some Euros left over from a trip you can have. If you put them in your
car's coin-dish, it'll add to your European motoring experience. In addition we have
some neat how-to and how-it-was done articles. You'll also notice a few cosmetic
changes to the newsletter. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the old format,
but I figured I might add my fingerprints here and there. Let me know if you like
or dislike the modifications.

In addition to the upcoming V8 meets, I want to get the word out about the 2004
Carlisle Import and Kit car show. It's taking place on May 21st to May 23rd.
Besides the usual British car stuff, much of the Kit Car stuff applies to us and
always inspires me to think of ways to utilize it in our cars. In the past, there
has always been a portable Dynamometer on hand, if any one wants to get some bragging
(or crying) numbers for their ride and I know that this year Spridgitech will be
displaying new fiberglass body kits for MGB's and Midgets for both race and street
applications. These are classy, subtle enhancements to the original Abingdon lines
that add functionality; not radical kits that make Hondas look like Darth Vader's
helmet. There will always be a surprise or two at the show, such as the company
I saw last year that is making a brand-new bug-eye Sprite kit based on a tubular
chassis and modern suspension parts. That will definitely be a great platform for
a light V8. Of most importance, though, is the opportunity this presents for a
bunch of us to get together for an afternoon. If you are within driving distance
of Carlisle, PA and would like to meet up, call me or send me an e-mail. You can
find directions at Carlisle's web-site at www.carsatcarlisle.com. Perhaps
next year a subset of us could chip in for a BritV8 table and display the various
products and services that we offer, including the Newsletter.

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It seems that there are a bunch of us here that make one or two parts for the
conversion community, but not enough to get a table as an individual. Collectively
the BritishV8 community makes enough widgets that it might be worth teaming up at
Carlisle or other shows. This could be a great opportunity to expose the Newsletter
to a larger crowd and multiply the marketing power of the entrepreneurs in the group.

On a final note, the lovely MGB and TR-7/8 molds built by Rolly Morris of the
recently defunct British American Motors have been bought by a good fellow named
Tom Rynne and his company: Team Liebre, who have been making Wind-Blocker shields
for LBC's and marketing them through Moss Motors and LBC Co. They should be back
in production by the time you read this and should be of the highest quality.

Let me say a final "Thank You" to all the contributors this issue. Without your
contribution to the community, this would be a very short newsletter. Please keep
the articles coming. Some of you who submitted articles won't see them this issue,
but will see them in the next one. I rationed some of the articles because I
figured it would be harder to get articles out of people during the summer months.

BACKFIRE!

Backfire is intended to be a place for items that don't fit the mold of the body
of the Newsletter. I'd like to see you, the reader, send in unique things. Art,
cartoons, recipes and auto humor are all welcome, as long as it is original,
non-copyrighted, and at least vaguely related to our hobby. Think of it as our
own little version of N.P.R's "All Things Considered." This month I thought I'd
share a note and photo I received.

Every now and again it is easy to forget why we do the things we do and to lose
track of the things that really matter. The picture above and the following note
are from a man who clearly has his priorities straight. Oh, and he also has a great
idea for keeping the engine bay cool. I don't have any children yet so I am always
impressed by people who can find balance in their lives.

"Enclosed is a picture of my 1980 MGB with a 1963 Buick 215 V8. I have been working
on it for 7+ years now. Progress is very slow now because of Little-League, etc.
I spend most of my time with the guy in the passenger seat - The Big Lefty! It is
tough for the car to compete with a home-run hitter."

In addition to the importance of family, Dirk's picture reminded me of something
else: The importance of young people for preserving a hobby. Whether it be old
British cars, the shooting sports or coin collecting, these hobbies will disappear
from this mortal coil at the same time we do if we don't kindle an interest in the
younger generations. The reason we can still get replacement parts and new body
shells is because there is a critical mass of people still buying them. It won't
last forever. Last time I checked, there was far more grey stubble than peach fuzz
in the British Car crowd, so I urge all of you to find a daughter or son, nephew,
niece, grandchild, or neighborhood kid and include them in your hobby. Most hobbies
require patience and self-discipline and teach self-reliance. If you take the time
to do this, you will become a mentor, and will teach these kids important social
skills, the value of delayed gratification, a sense of community, and trust. Most
kids don't get enough quality time with adults and many have poor role models. Who
knows, you could make the difference between a kid who spends all his free time
smoking' weed behind the Quicky-Mart and a kid who learns a trade or gets a degree,
contributes to society, and passes the gift of learning on to one of his neighborhood
kids 30 years later. However, if all this altruistic bunk is just so much noise to
your ears, think of it this way: the little imps are a great source of free labor.